REVIEW |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Going. Good (Soft patches in
the back straight) Racegoers at the Cumberland Point to Point races at Aspatria
on Saturday enjoyed a bright and breezy afternoon and some fine racing. It was a particularly good afternoon
for John and Elizabeth Brockbank who saw their yellow and black colours
carried to victory on three occasions by Icelandic Spring, Dr Deductible
and Distracting. For most of the final circuit of the opening race there were
only 2 runners. However they
still produced an exciting finish. Icelandic Spring was the first to come
under pressure from Luke
Morgan but he kept responding and
eventually beat Solway Plain by 3 lengths. Kevin Anderson rode a fine race on
the favourite Underley Park in the open Restricted. Always going well they
steadily pulled clear up the home straight for a comfortable victory
having been backed from 2/1 to 5/4. Pharmistice looked beaten between the
last 2 fences having been headed by Legendry Line.
However Nicola Stirling conjured a fine leap out of her mount at
the last to regain the advantage, which they held by 11/2 lengths at the
line. The men’s open race produced
another close finish. It was
by Dr Deductible who quickened well on the run in to just get the better
of the gallant Supreme Day and win by half a length. The confined race produced the
closest finish of the day with Gaultier Gale beating Poynder Park by a
head. Poynder Park went clear
along the back straight and appeared to have the race in safekeeping.
However Alistair Findlay brought Gaultier Gale from some way back
with a well timed challenge which saw him get up in the shadow of the
post. The first Maiden was won by the
progressive Highland Brig who gave a fine exhibition of jumping from the
front and eventually won by a distance.
He carries the same “green with a white sash” Hamilton colours
made famous by Earls Brig some years ago.
Earls Brig started his career in Northern Point to Points and was
so good that he went on to run third in the 1985 Cheltenham Gold Cup. The final race of the day was won
by Distracting who confirmed the promise shown on his debut at Dalston.
Always going well he stayed on well up the home straight to win by 10
lengths from More Flair. Next weeks meeting is at Hexham
Racecourse on Sunday 18th May. First race 2.00pm.
|